Donald Trump has tried everything to keep his tax returns under wraps, but now New York’s District Attorney is a step closer to getting the president’s personal and corporate tax returns. A federal judge turned down a request to block the release of the returns. The New York Times says Judge Victor Marrero of Manhattan federal court didn’t buy the argument “that sitting presidents are immune from criminal investigations.”
In a 75-page ruling, Judge Marrero called the president’s argument “repugnant to the nation’s governmental structure and constitutional values.” Presidents, their families and businesses are not above the law, the judge ruled.
Manhattan DA, Cyrus Vance, requested the returns as part of the probe into the Trump Organization’s potential role in hush-money payments. The Associated Press reports:
Vance began his probe after federal prosecutors in Manhattan completed their investigation into payments that Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, arranged to be paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal to keep them silent during the presidential race. The Trump Organization later reimbursed Cohen.
Trump’s attorneys plan to appeal the ruling.